Witnessing this scene, Li Fan immediately thought of the "Rain of My Revival" that Master Yin had once mentioned.
However, the corpses falling from the sky this time were clearly distinct in appearance from one another.
He soon realized that this was no "Rain of My Revival."
Rather, the Myriad-Corpse Giant they had encountered before had disintegrated.
Clearly, Huangfu Song had also arrived at the same thought as Xu Bai in that instant.
His brow furrowed tightly. "What's going on now? Did we just happen upon the Alliance making a move against the corpse giant?"
While he and Dongfang Yao were mystified, Li Fan had a faint inkling of the reason.
"Is this a sign that the Principle of Life and Death has been reversed once more?" Li Fan's heart skipped a beat.
*Counting the days, even if Blue Feather managed to consume more longevity-extending treasures, his lifespan must be drawing near its end.*
*It seems he chose this path in the end after all. And yet, in such a short time, he has actually managed to dissolve this manifestation of the reversed Principle of Life and Death...*
*Is Blue Feather truly this formidable?*
A flicker of doubt crossed Li Fan's mind.
*Or could he have received outside help?*
Although Xu Bai still did not fully understand how the reversal of heaven and earth's principles—and its impact on all things—was actually brought about, the sight before them—a freely moving corpse giant disintegrating in an instant—unequivocally proved that two diametrically opposed powers were clashing against each other.
*This does not necessarily mean Blue Feather has gained the upper hand in their confrontation. It only suggests that the Longevity Heavenly Venerable who reversed life and death might have been caught slightly off guard by Blue Feather's counterattack. After all, He has likely only just reversed the principle recently and hasn't yet had time to complete the step of Fixing Principles.*
*Until one truly enters the Longevity realm, the gap between it and Dao Integration doesn't appear as vast as imagined.*
As Li Fan pondered to himself, the rain of corpses finally came to a slow stop.
Huangfu Song and Dongfang Yao stared down at the countless corpses disappearing into the depths beneath the white fog, their expressions flickering uncertainly.
"Damn it, this white fog is getting more and more bizarre," Dongfang Yao cursed under his breath.
After resting and regrouping, the three continued venturing into the white fog, searching for traces of Lost Domains.
Meanwhile, in Tianliang Province, Xu Bai—who had been conversing amiably with emissaries from other provinces—suddenly excused himself.
Returning to the Heavenly Profound Mirror, he began searching for any clues related to a "contention over the principles of heaven and earth."
All was quiet, devoid of any apparent anomalies.
Yet this was precisely the greatest anomaly of all.
Even the depths of the white fog were affected by the clash between the two sides, so how could the Xuanhuang Realm proper be untouched?
Incidents defying common sense were bound to have occurred, only to be deliberately concealed by the Alliance.
Xu Bai pondered for a moment, exited the Heavenly Profound Mirror, and contacted Liu San.
He instructed him to pause alchemy for the time being and order Medicine King Sect cultivators across various regions to inquire if anything strange had taken place around them.
With the consciousnesses of the Medicine King Sect disciples linked together through the Spring and Autumn Great Dream Formation, they acted with remarkable speed.
In less than half a day, reports from the various provinces flowed continuously to Xu Bai.
"A cultivator charged out from the white fog like a madman, attacking everything in sight indiscriminately without any regard for death. Before Alliance cultivators could kill him, he collapsed on his own. Upon inspection, they discovered that the cultivator had already been a corpse long ago."
"In Tianlin Province, a cultivator died suddenly while forming his Golden Core. Even the heavenly phenomenon of a cultivator's demise had manifested above, and his close friends were preparing to collect his remains when the man suddenly sprang back to life. The phenomenon vanished abruptly, but the clouds covering the sky lingered for a long time as if deeply reluctant to disperse."
"Interesting..." Xu Bai's eyes flickered.
"In Taihua Province, there was a couple of Dao companions. The wife had perished long ago, but her husband refused to accept the truth and preserved her frozen corpse. Not long ago, this devoted man suddenly appeared before everyone alongside a female cultivator. People initially assumed he had finally moved on and taken a new partner, but upon closer examination, they discovered that the woman beside him was none other than his wife who had been dead for years! However, her gaze was somewhat vacant, her movements abnormal, and she could no longer remember her friends from life."
...
As Xu Bai read on, his expression grew increasingly grave.
For beyond the initial rumors of half-living, half-dead people abruptly losing their ability to move, more and more incidents of resurrection from death were continually occurring everywhere.
This was not confined to a single province; it was happening across the entire territory of the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals.
"It isn't even just the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals. Even over on the Five Elders Association's side..."
Xu Bai's expression turned solemn.
*Is it because of Blue Feather's interference that this Heavenly Venerable of Life and Death has begun accelerating the pace of Fixing Principles?*
As far as Xu Bai knew, Yuandao Province, where Blue Feather resided, showed no signs of battle having taken place.
"Rather than resolving this rival directly through combat, He is crushing him under the overwhelming tide by directly reversing the principle."
Xu Bai narrowed his eyes. "It seems this Heavenly Venerable of Life and Death never took Blue Feather to heart at all, having no interest in even lifting a finger against him.
"He needs only to carry out His steps toward attaining Longevity in due order. Blue Feather standing in His path is truly like a mantis trying to stop a chariot—with only one possible end: to be crushed into dust."
Xu Bai could almost hear the furious roar of Blue Feather after failing to attain his Dao.
"Perhaps the final outcome will arrive soon. All I need to do is wait patiently."
He had the Medicine King Sect disciples continue gathering intelligence. To prevent outside disturbances, Xu Bai simply shut off his communication talisman again, focusing his attention on observing how events unfolded.
Just as he anticipated, the multiplying signs of resurrection from death finally alerted the cultivators of the Alliance.
Uneasy discussions spread, growing louder by the day, until they finally prompted a proclamation from the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals:
"Cultivators of the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals, remember this glorious day!
"After many long years, our Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals is about to welcome a new Longevity Heavenly Venerable.
"The dead cannot return to life; such has been the principle of heaven and earth.
"Yet from this day forth, this established truth shall be utterly rewritten.
"Reversing the Principle of Life and Death, the Heavenly Venerable bears the title 'Rebirth.'
"Therefore, do not panic. Celebrate with all your hearts!
"Under the divine power of Heavenly Venerable Rebirth, all fallen cultivators may be revived after eighteen years—with the memories of their past lives intact!
"A brand-new era has arrived!"
Upon the release of the announcement, cultivators across the entire realm were instantly struck dumb.
Then shock, disbelief, dread...
A deluge of emotions erupted at once.
In every province, the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals branch was surrounded so tightly that not a drop of water could trickle through.
Cultivators could not wait to learn the details of this reincarnation, and in what manner this so-called revival would take place.
Yet officials across the lands were equally baffled, knowing nothing about the matter.
Thus, they could only do their best to maintain order, waiting for the day when the final answer would be revealed.
Chapter 721